CASD board president Dana Baker's promises of transparency were put to the test this week.

Kudos to Dr. Dana Baker and the recently elected/reelected board members who are promising transparency in the running of our tax-supported schools.

We were encouraged when Dr. Baker announced following his election as Chambersburg Area School District board president this month that he would encourage transparency “as much as possible” as the board moves forward into a new era of, hopefully, (sound the trumpets) transparency.

The past week Dr. Baker’s and the board’s resolve on the transparency issue was tested when an issue arose concerning a major change in the annual holiday concert by the CASHS Glee Club.

This is a 67-year tradition featuring Christmas music creatively performed by the district’s most talented young vocalists. Seems the problem lies not with the music but the fact that one song is intricately woven into a live nativity scene that has traditionally been a part of the concert for all six-plus decades.

It’s become a tradition, if not a historical event, in our community. But it is also one that has been under attack in recent years – not from within the community but from outside -- because of its religious overtones.

On Wednesday, Glee Club members were told the nativity would be axed from this year’s show, something that started a maelstrom of protests by club members, their parents and other members of the larger community.

It was unclear who issued the order, but Dr. Baker was quick to respond to a reporter’s questions with openness and clarity. He took responsibility for his part in the decision, explained his reasons for first axing the nativity tableau and later restoring it to the production.

His openness and willingness to communicate with us was refreshing, to say the least. The administration’s follow up the next day with complete background information about the issue was like a breath of fresh air.

More importantly, it is an indication that as far as transparency goes, the board is changing direction, and perhaps the administration will follow suit.

Although the two decisions were made first by Dr. Baker and CASD Superintendent Joe Padasak and later by Baker, Padasak and board Vice President Bill Lennartz Jr. and not the entire board, that in itself is a good sign.

Dr. Baker told us he didn’t involve the entire board because of concerns about Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law which prohibits board members from getting together in what would be a quorum outside of previously announced meetings.

As journalists, we strongly support that concept. That, in fact, is an integral part of the transparency issue itself. The elected representatives who are responsible for spending our tax dollars should not be making decisions behind closed doors.